Knights of Malta

The Great Priory of the United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders
of the Temple and of St. John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta
of England and Wales and its Provinces Overseas

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The historic “Knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem” (Knights Hospitaller) were founded in Jerusalem during the first Crusade, about the year 1099, by the association of many pious Knights with the Brothers of St John’s Hospital, which had been founded earlier that same century, for the relief of pilgrims travelling to worship at the Holy Sepulchre.

In Masonic terms, the Malta Degree is conferred on Candidates who have already been Installed as Knights Templar. Whilst the regalia and ceremony are very different from that of Knights Templar Freemasonry it is not a separate sovereign body, rather a progressive Degree within the Order of the Knights Templar; hence the full name of the Great Priory being “The Great Priory of The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of The Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta of England and Wales and its Provinces Overseas”.

The ceremony is based on the movement of the Knights Hospitaller from their inception in Jerusalem, to their settling on the Island of Malta in 1522 (having travelled via Palestine and Rhodes), where they would remain in control for some 270 years.

The Masonic ceremony of Installation of a Knight of Malta is a very colourful one which includes moments of drama and historic background. The Rank structure within the Degree is similar to that of the Knights Templar with a few slight differences. The Officers titles are very different and unique to the Degree.

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Knights of Malta

Great Priory of Malta Meeting - 2023

 

On Tuesday, 21 November 2023, Brother Knights from across the Constitution, and the worldwide Great Priory of Malta community gathered at Freemasons’ Hall, London for the Annual Chapter of the Great Priory of Malta.

The meeting was presided over by the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master, Paul Raymond Clement, G.C.M. A first and pleasant duty was to appoint to the honour and dignity of Knight Commander of the United Orders, John Herbert Prizeman who, in addition to his great support for this Order, is perhaps best known to us as Pro Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons.

The next item of business was to announce the re-appointment of R.E.Kt. Jonathan Charles Whitaker, K.C.M., as Great Prior of Malta, followed by the appointment of V.E.Kt. Alan Thomas Howls as Great Sub-Prior of Malta.

The meeting was then handed over to the Great Prior of Malta to begin the Installation of Knight John Boyington, as a Knight of Malta. This is unique among our Orders, being the only Annual Investiture Meeting during which a full Masonic Degree Ceremony is worked on a true Candidate.

While the Candidate retired to the Guard room to receive the Degree of Knight of St Paul, The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master was delighted to confer appointment to, or promotion in, Great Rank on 142 Brethren and invest those present.

When the Candidate was re-admitted the ceremony proceeded with the degree being conferred by the Officers of Great Priory, led superbly by the Great Prior of Malta.

We thank everyone who attended for their wonderful support for this meeting and our Order. It has become an annual event to look forward to for many of our Brother Knights and we hope to see you again next year.

You can read the text of the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master’s address here.

Rulers

M.E. & S.Kt. Paul R. Clement, G.C.M.
Grand Master

R.E.Kt. Jonathan C. Whitaker, JP, K.C.M.
Great Prior of Malta

E.Kt. Alan T. Howls
Great Sub-Prior of Malta

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